With more and more pictures emerging from the filming of the show it's understandable why fans can't wait for season three of The Crown.

Olivia Colman will take the stage (or the crown) from Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth, and we cannot wait to see what she has in store for us.

Another famous face coming to our screens will be Helena Bonham Carter as she replaces Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret; and Tobias Menzies to take on the role of Prince Philip, previously played by Matt Smith.

This series of the critically-acclaimed Netflix drama will follow the pattern set by the first two seasons, which took place from 1947 to 1956 and 1957 to 1964.

Netfix filming The Crown at Caernarfon (Image: Daily Post Wales)

Following in that order this season will cover the next decade of Queen Elizabeth II's rule, when Her Majesty and Prince Phillip will be in their fifties. It seems that season three will shine more of a light on the younger members of the family too: the royal couple's children.

In case you want to add a little royal excitement to your lives, here are a few spoilers about what we can expect to see and when we can expect to see them.

The Crown season 3 new trailer

Unfortunately neither a new or official trailer has been released just yet so fans will have to wait a little longer for that one.

Filming of the season took place from summer 2018 and lasted for several months. With filming potentially coming to a close we can only hope that means a trailer will be with us shortly.

But just in case you need a little reminder here is the trailer for season two of The Crown.

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The Crown season 3 start date

It's as if Netflix don't know we are all sat here twiddling our thumbs waiting for this annoucement.

At the moment everyone is keeping very tight lipped about an exact date and time we could see the third season air, which is breaking all the fans' hearts.

But one thing that is expected is that the third season will follow the pattern of the previous seasons.

Season one aired on November 4, 2016 and season two on December 8, 2017.

So it is quite possible that season three is expected to land towards the end of 2019. Perfect timing for a cold weather TV binge watch next to the fire.

Cast update for The Crown season 3. Who is going to be in The Crown season 3?

The filming of the Netflix production of The Crown in Caernarfon in Gwynedd (Image: Daily Post Wales)

The Queen

Olivia Colman, who recently had a BAFTA win for Best Leading Actress for The Favourite, will take over the role from Claire Foy. Colman will play Queen Elizabeth for the third and fourth seasons.

Netflix released a first-look teaser of the new actress in the role, with a still of her sipping tea while wearing the Queen's signature powder-pink suit and her famous pearls.

Prince Phillip

Familiar British face Tobias Menzies will assume the role of Prince Phillip from Matt Smith.

Famous Doctor Who star Matt Smith played Prince Phillip in seasons one and two but the role will now be taken on by Tobias Menzies, who is famous for The Night Manager, Outlander and Game of Thrones.

Princess Margaret

Adding to the superstar casting, Helena Bonham Carter will take on the role of Princess Margaret, who was previously played by Vanessa Kirby.

Vanessa Kirby, who played the royal in the first two seasons, expressed her excitement about her successor on Instagram with a cute smiley snap of Helena Bonham Carter captioned, "Honoured".

Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown series 3 (Image: Netflix)

Margaret Thatcher

Gillian Anderson is rumoured to be playing Thatcher throughout 1979 and 1990 when the fourth run of the series will take place.

Diana?

There is a lot of questions surrounding the inclusion of Diana in season three but creator Peter Morgan said: “I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do with her if I ever get that far”.

He added, “If she were to be introduced, it’d probably have to wait until the fourth” in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Yet, People magazine has reported that Diana will in fact feature at the end of the third season and will play a major role in the fourth season.

What is going to happen in The Crown season 3?

More shots from the filming of The Crown at Caernarfon (Image: Daily Post Wales)

Following the time-line of the previous series the third and fourth series will be based on the years 1964-76 and 1979-90.

Series one and two have already covered the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, from 1947-63, so it only seems right we get the next installment.

The relationship of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles will also blossom in this series two as the two dated for three years between 1971 and 1973 before he left for the Royal Navy.

According to The Times, the fourth season of the show will focus on the Queen and Thatcher’s disagreement over Apartheid in South Africa, the 1984-5 miners’ strike and the 1982 Falklands War.

Details of season three are being kept tightly under wraps but all these spoilers and the potential for more and more throughout the year are certainly reason for excitment.

As we said it’s not been confirmed yet but there is a potential chance the series will also introduce Princess Diana towards the end of the season.